[vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
Manta Ray (Manta Birostris)
It was on the 20th of October 2019 , during one of our scuba dives on Bikini reef in Sodwana Bay iSimanagaliso wetland park, South Africa, a favourite spot on the two-mile reef with a max depth of 22m and an average depth of about 15m, when we came across one of the most magnetic, majestically designed marine species; a manta ray. It literally swam around us for more than a minute.
As most people stared in awe, I on the other hand, felt my tears stream down my eyes effortlessly, danced, screamed and purposefully lost all my bearings. I genuinely believe that one, specifically I, can never get used to seeing such an impromptu, swiftly striding and flying about underwater. You know when they say, “Love at first sight?” This was my love at first sight. On the 20th of October 2019, it became obvious that I was extremely-in- love with mantas. The amount of presence that manta’s and devil rays have is extremely protruding.
Early on in 2019, I had my first experience with a manta ray. It was about 15m away from where we hovered. Far away from the human congregation we held in its home. I was not yet in a place where I could take my camera with, and in turn, I got the honest opportunity to watch this manta and take it all it all in. It was then, that I decided to get myself a Ying and Yang tattoo of a manta ray on the back of my neck. This is genuine love.
A few facts about them:
- They have a large brain relative to their body size in comparison to other sharks and rays.
- “Manta” is Spanish for “Cloak” which refers to their large blanket-shaped bodies.
- There are two types of manta rays, the giant Manta, most commonly shown in media, and the Reef Manta. Both manta rays are filter feeders, actively combing the waters for the smallest of prey, and using their cephalic fins to channel water into their mouth.
- It is, believed that they can live for at least 50 years and take up to ten years to reach sexual maturity.
- Males usually follow the female for 20 minutes up to 48 hours, as she ‘tests’ the males’ strength and stamina by leading them on a “dance”, looping, swerving, and diving incredibly fast until there is only one male left. This male will take hold of the female’s left wing in his mouth, and then move underneath the female so they are facing each other. Finally, copulation begins and takes just a few seconds.
- The wingspan of a manta can reach 20 or more feet across and they weigh as much as 2000 kilos.
- The top threats that mantas face include fishing, both for commercial purposes and accidentally being caught in fishing gear (bycatch). Some of their parts are usually, utilized in traditional Asian medicine.
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
If you happen to be “manta obsessed” as much as I am, you can easily follow a couple of pages on Instagram, and simply check out Google pages for more information on these magnificent sea creatures. Also, there is a documentary on Netflix called “Sharks”. I have personally watched this documentary more than ten times, and I reckon that some of you will immediately notice why.
I will be releasing my very own first manta video soon. Please stay tuned for that. Thank you. iSimangaliso Wetland park,Kwazulu Natal South Africa.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][social_buttons facebook=”true” twitter=”true” google_plus=”true” linkedin=”true”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_content” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][image_with_animation image_url=”1850″ alignment=”center” animation=”None”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
